Garrett hopeful Leary, Spencer will be ready to practice Monday

ARLINGTON – Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Thursday night he’s hopeful that left guard Ron Leary and defensive end Anthony Spencer will return to practice next week in preparation for the Sept. 8 season opener against the New York Giants.

Both players are recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

“Whether it’s Monday or Wednesday, we don’t know that,” Garrett said of the target day for the two returning. “But we’ll see what their progress is over the weekend.”

Leary ran some on the field before Thursday night’s preseason finale against Houston.

“I can run now,” he said. “I couldn’t run a couple of days ago, so now that I’m running it shows that I’m getting better.”

Garrett also confirmed that the Cowboys are considering starting Doug Free at right guard even if Leary is ready to play against the Giants. With Leary and 2012 starting left guard Nate Livings both out after knee surgery, the Cowboys moved Free from right tackle to right guard and slid right guard Mackenzy Bernadeau over to left guard while playing Jermey Parnell at right tackle.

Jones said at the team’s kickoff luncheon Wednesday that “it shouldn’t be ruled out” that the team would play Leary at left guard and keep Free at right guard.

“The idea was to get the five best guys out there, the best combination of five as well,” Garrett said. “So that’s certainly an alternative out there for us going forward.”
Garrett said he also anticipates Bernadeau (ankle sprain) and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher (groin) practicing next week.